Wood Combustion and Pyrolysis

Technologies

Don Harfield, P.Eng., P.M.P

Thermochemical Processing Team Lead

Vegreville, Alberta

Presentation to AROWRN Field Day

Willow Harvesting and Combustion Bus Tour – April 22, 2015

Edmonton (Millwoods)

Edmonton (C-Fer Technologies)

Devon

600 world class

scientists, engineers,

technicians, and

business experts

1 million sq ft of bench,

pilot-scale and

demonstration facilities

+900 industry clients

per year

+90 years of operation

$ 175 M total revenue

Vegreville

Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures

Applied

Research

Centres

AITF Thermochemical Expertise

Vegreville Location

Don Harfield, P. Eng., P.M.P., Team Lead

Ataullah Khan, Ph.D., Pyrolysis, Activated Carbon &

Catalyst Research Specialist

Jin Tak, P. Eng, Combustion and Chemical Engineer

Tim Anderson, Operations & Lab Supervisor

Millwoods Location

Robert Wray, P. Eng., Wood Fibre & Torrefaction Specialist

Stephanie Trottier, P. Eng, Gasification Specialist

Laura McIlveen, P.Eng., Forestry Technical Specialist

Related Technical Expertise

Wood Combustion

Lab & Pilot Scale Combustion Testing Facilities

Demonstration Scale Facilities (Strathcona, Camrose)

Torrefaction

Hydrophobic Torrefied Wood Pellets

Slow Pyrolysis

Lab, Bench, Pilot and Demonstration Scale Facilities

Biochar Production Facilities

Alberta Biochar Initiative (ABI) Founder

Gasification

Internal Survey of Systems

Community Energy System (2009 Performance Evaluation)

Community Power 35kw Demo Scale Facility

Related Technical Expertise

Hydrothermal Carbonization

Wet Bio-Coal Conversion

Municipal Interest for Wet Biomass or Pathogen Containing

Slow Release Fertilizers

Carbon Carrier for Specialty Ag Formulations

Recent Feasibility Studies

Sawmill CHP (Gasification, ORC – 3 MW)

Municipal Solid Waste Strategies

Biomass Products (Animal Bedding)

Performance Validation & Emissions Testing

Process Design & Mass Energy Balance

Evaluations

http://www.integrofuels.com/green.html http://www.lbl.gov/Publications/YOS/Feb/

The Composition of Biomass

The Composition of Wood

Biofuels. 2 (2), 185 – 208 (2011).

Thermal Stability Regimes

Conversion Technologies

Biomass Energy Technologies

Biomass is a renewable, carbon neutral GHG,

sustainable solid fuel suitable for energy generation in

the form of heat and for electrical cogeneration.

Commercially available technologies include:

Conventional Combustion (heat only via exchangers)

Conventional Combustion (heat with power generation)

Steam powered electrical generators and steam heat

Organic Rankine Cycle powered electrical generators and heat

Gasification Combustion with ORC Electrical Generation

Anaerobic Digestion Gas Engine Power Generation

Biomass Conversion Technologies

Biomass can be a renewable, carbon negative GHG,

sustainable solid fuel suitable for energy generation in

the form of heat and for electrical cogeneration.

Developmental technologies include:

Torrefaction and Heat Generation (heat via exchangers)

Biochar Production and Heat Generation

Syngas Engine Combustion and Low Grade Heat

Biochemical Production (Syngas & Bio-Oil)

Synthetic Fuel Production (Bio-Oils)

Conventional Combustion Technologies

Conventional Combustion Technologies for

Industrial and District Heating Systems Include:

Grate Furnace (Fixed, Inclined, Rotating, etc) – 200+ kw

Ie. Babcox & Wilcox

Bubbling Fluidized Bed (BFB) – 10 to 200 MW

Ie. Kvaerner

Circulating Fluidized Bed - > 100 MW

Ie. Alstom

Dust Burner – 5 to 10 MW

Simoneau

Pulverized Fuel (Coal) – 10 MW to 200 MW

Foster Wheeler

Combustion Heat & Power (CHP)

Heating Needs (Municipal, Commercial, Residential)

Electrical Power Needs

Energy Sources (Natural Gas, Woody Biomass)

Technologies Available, Efficiency & Energy Output

Combustion Heat (i.e. KOB, KMW, Lambion)

Gasification Syngas (i.e. Nexterra)

Combined Heat and Power Generation (i.e. Wellons/Turboden)

Regulatory Requirements (AEnv, ABSA)

Feasibility and Applicability

CH&P Design Considerations

Assessment of Heating & Power Needs

Daily, Monthly, Annually

Residential, Arena, Commercial, Industrial

Feedstock Supply (Type, Quality, Availability)

Matching Heating & Power Needs to Technology

Internal Resources (Trades, Labour, Technical)

External Support (Equipment Supplier, Engineering)

Economic Viability

Community Growth Projections

Collaboration with Other Parties

Municipal

Industry

Centre in the Park Energy System

Biomass Combustion System – Sh. Park

• Plant Capacity (Nat Gas 5 MW)

• Combustion Heat Base Load 0.75 MW

• Advanced Combustion System • Integrated with Community Energy System

• Secondary Air and Flue Gas Recirculation

• Moving Ash Grate

• Multi-Cyclone Ash Removal

• Electro-static Precipitator

• Continuous Opacity Meter

Funding contribution by:

Western Economic Diversification Canada ($1.5 million)

and Federation of Canadian Municipalities ($ 350k)

Biomass

Containers

Lambion

Biomass

System

Biomass Combustion System - Camrose

• Heating System (Roof Top + Wood Heat)

• Combustion Heat Base Load 135 kW

• Advanced Combustion System • Integrated with Office Heating System

• Rotary Combustion Chamber

• Secondary Air

• Moving Ash Grate

• Flue Gas Recirculation

Biomass

Storage Bin

KOB 150

Biomass

Boiler

Camrose County Administration Office Complex

Stoker Combustor (KOB)

KOB Combustion Boiler Systems

Fink Machine KOB Boiler Installations (72 Installations in Canada and US)

• Alberta (5 Systems)

• Edmonton – Madsen Custom Cabinets (Pyrot 540 – 2003)

• Calgary – ECCO Waste Solutions (Two Pyrot 540 – 2008, 2011)

• Camrose – County Admin Office (Pyrot 150)

• North West Territories (20 Systems)

• Yellowknife – Airport (Pyrot 540 – 2015)

• Various – Nine Schools (Pyrot 540, 720, 950)

• Yellowknife - Municipal/ Commercial (Pyrot 300, 400, 720, 950)

• Yukon (1 System)

• Whitehorse – Corrections Centre (Pyrot 950)

• British Columbia (25 Systems)

• Fink District Energy (Pyrot 540)

• Lake Cowichan Secondary School – (Pyrot 150)

• Prince Edward Island (11 Systems)

• United States (10 Systems)

KOB Combustion Boiler Systems

Camrose County Madsens Cabinets

Yellowknife Airport

ECCO Waste Solutions

Impact of Moisture on Wood Energy

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

Wo

od

He

atin

g V

alu

e (

GJ/

ton

ne

)

Moisture Content (%, w.b.)

Wood Heating Values Versus Moisture Content

No

rmal

Op

era

tin

g Zo

ne

– 1

0 t

o 2

0%

Lim

it o

f O

pe

rab

ility

– 3

5%

Gre

en

Wo

od

– 5

0%

Impact of Moisture on Heat Output

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

The

rmal

He

at O

utp

ut

(KW

)

Moisture Content (%, w.b.)

Thermal Heat Output Versus Moisture Content

Strathcona County

City of Calgary

Camrose County

No

rmal

Op

era

tin

g Zo

ne

– 1

0 t

o 2

0%

Lim

it o

f O

pe

rab

ility

– 3

5%

Gre

en

Wo

od

– 5

0%

Products: Torrefaction and Biochar

Torrefaction Process and Product

Heat Treatment; 250 – 350 C

Brittle; Easy Grindability; Hydrophobic

Increases Energy Density (typically from 18 to 22 GJ/t)

Used as a Solid Fuel, ie Bio-Coal

Biochar Process and Product

Carbon-rich Solid

Produced by Slow Pyrolysis (starved oxygen)

Similar to charcoal, except it is used for soil amendment purposes.

Environmental Applications for cleaning water, reducing odor,

adsorbing toxic pollutants

Excess Heat Suitable for Co-Gen on Larger Facilities

Torrefaction Applications

Comparison of Torrefaction Characteristics

Like coffee, degree of torrefaction can be considered as light,

medium and dark roast.

Torrefaction Technologies

Types of Torrefied Wood Systems Rotating Drum

Screw Drive

Multi-Hearth Furnace

Torbed Reactor

Moving Compact Bed

Belt Dryer

Microwave Reactor

Biochar: Carbon-rich solid

produced by low-temperature

(450 to 550º C) slow pyrolysis of

biomass under partial or

complete exclusion of oxygen.

What is Biochar?

Biochar - Slow Pyrolysis Reactors

Kilns – Example:

Pacific Pyrolysis

Retorts – Example:

Four Seasons Fuel

Biochar Properties

Enhances water retention

Improves soil aeration and microbial activity

Reduces nutrient leaching (water quality impacts) due to high Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

Captures organic pollutants due to high adsorptive capacity, making them less bioavailable

Reduces chemical fertilizer requirements by retaining N and P

Contains soluble salts of Ca, Mg and K carbonates, can effectively amend lime saline/sodic soil

Biochar Applications

Greenhouse/Hydroponic Growth Media

Agricultural Soil Amelioration

Horticultural Soil Amendment

Slow Release Fertilizers

Advanced Carbons

Biochar

Sawdust

Biochar at 60 tons/ha Solonetzic soil

Biochar Applications

Land/Tailing Pond Reclamation

Waste Water Treatment (oil sands tailings)

Emissions Control (air filtration)

Lake Restoration (toxic algae control)

Algal Bloom

Soil remediation in NWT

Tomato Trial in Vegreville 2010

Growth Medium in Hydroponics (AITF)

Growth Medium in Hydroponics (AITF)

Cucumber Trial in Vegreville, 2010

Biochar Soil Benefits and GHG Impacts

Crop and Soil Benefits

Enhances crop productivity, Reduces soil erosion

Improves soil tilt (compaction), fertility, water retention

Reduces need for fertilizer inputs

Provides high surface area and porous network for microbes

to flourish

Reduces leaching of nitrogen and phosphorus

GHG Impacts

Nitrous oxide emissions reduced by 50-80%

Some evidence of methane suppression

Stability, longevity, recalcitrance

Soil carbon pool

Biochar in Reclamation: Case Study #1

Biochar previously used in a hydroponic

greenhouse growth experiment was

used on a remote site in NWT to

ameliorate fine texture marginal soil and

to enhance a phytoremediation trial that

was treated with BioBoost®

Significantly reduced F2/F3 petroleum

hydrocarbon in the soil after 2 years

Biochar in Reclamation Case Study #2

Remote sump site (2.5 ha) with borrow

pit in NWT

Fine texture soil with little topsoil

In 2010, site was seeded with native

grass mixture

In 2012, biochar added and planted with

7 woody species

Overall, biochar had a net positive effect

on vegetative growth and soil bulk

density and moisture holding capacity

2013 2014

Biochar in Reclamation Case Study #3

Using a subsoiler, incorporated biochar into

the Bnt horizon of a solodized solonetz in

Bruce, Alberta (near Vegreville)

Increased biomass yield and plant survival

were observed in 60t/ha treatment

Biochar likely increased water holding

capacity and root zone expansion in the Bnt

horizon

Biochar incorporated at 60 t/ha Control (business as usual)

Alberta Biochar Initiative (ABI)

Pre-Commercial Demonstration Project (3 Yr)

Federally Funded through WD – $ 900k

Partners: AITF, Lakeland College, Industry

Two Mobile Demo Units (0.5 tonne/day biochar output)

Abri-Tech (Canadian) - Retort Auger (indirect heat)

Black is Green (Australian) - Rotary Multi Hearth Furnace (direct heat)

Carbon Sequestration and GHG Mitigation

Biochar Network & Partnership Engagement

Demo Scale Biochar Production (0.5 tonne/day)

ABRI-Tech (Canada) Black is Green (Australia)

Auger Retort – Indirect Heat Multi-Hearth Furnace – Direct Heat

Biochar Applications

Greenhouse/Hydroponic Growth Media

Horticultural Soil Amendment

Agriculture Ameliorant

Land/Tailing Pond Reclamation

Waste Water Treatment (oil sands tailings)

Emissions Control (Air Filtration)

Lake Restoration (toxic algae control)

Slow Release Fertilizers

Algal Bloom

Soil Ameliorant

Gasification Technologies

Gasifier Applicability Range

Gasifier Strengths & Weaknesses

Conclusions

Biomass Combustion and Pyrolysis Suitable for:

Distributed Heating Systems (i.e. Combustion)

Power Co-Generation (i.e. Electrical Off/On Grid)

Torrefied Biofuels (i.e. Biocoal)

Pyrolysis Products (i.e. Biochar, Bio-Oil and Syn Gas)

Biochemicals (i.e. Phenol Glues)

Activated Carbons (i.e. Filtration Media)

Biochar

Soil Amendments (and Carbon Sequestration)

Greenhouse Growth Media

Base for Activated Carbons

Thank You!

Don Harfield, P.Eng., P.M.P.

AITF Vegreville Tel (780) 632-8271

Email: don.harfield@albertainnovates.ca

Wood Combustion and Pyrolysis Technologies

Presentation to AROWRN Field Day

Willow Harvesting and Combustion Demonstration Tour – April 22, 2015